Up High and Under Waterfalls in 2021

We are happy to report the completion of yet another fruitful Black Swift survey season! The 2021 “swifting season” was the ninth consecutive season of monitoring this unique species that nests exclusively in or near majestic waterfalls in some of North America’s most rugged mountains. As in previous swifting seasons, Montana Audubon collaborated with a number of partners, most notably Glacier National Park’s (GNP) non-game biologist Lisa Bate and her team of 6 wildlife technicians. The GNP crew provided invaluable support to our crew of Amy Seaman, Jack Toriello, Bo Crees, and Peter Dudley.

In addition to our continued waterfall monitoring effort in GNP, 2021 brought the opportunity for exploratory waterfall surveys in Northwestern Montana, and for the first time, the chance to work with partners in Idaho, like Idaho Fish & Game and the Idaho Bird Observatory; helping us carry out one week of productive waterfall surveys in Idaho’s Panhandle region. During the season we were lucky to have a handful of volunteers join us, including the Montana Audubon Center’s Big Sky Watershed Corps member, Miranda Hernandez.

Read our full report HERE!